Meetings set for bypass plan

Plans by the Michigan Department of Transportation for a U.S. 131 bypass through Constantine were discussed Monday at the village council meeting.

Comment

By Angie Birdsall Special the Journal

Sturgis Journal - Sturgis, MI

By Angie Birdsall Special the Journal

Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 12:00 PM

By Angie Birdsall Special the Journal
Posted Jan. 9, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Constantine

Plans by the Michigan Department of Transportation for a U.S. 131 bypass through Constantine were discussed Monday at the village council meeting.

In December, council President Pat Weiss attended a meeting of 35 MDOT and environmental representatives who indicated bypass work was scheduled to take place Feb. 1-Nov.1.

She also said a delegation from MDOT would attend the Jan. 21 council meeting as a “kickoff celebration” with an opportunity to ask questions.

“When I reported land had been acquired for the bypass, there was some question on this by the landowners, so I got back with Larry Doyle, an engineer from MDOT,” Weiss said.

An email from Doyle said he had confirmed with MDOT Real Estate that MDOT has the rights for the property needed.

“Final compensation has not been completed on all parcels, so that may be what (landowners) are referring to, but rest assured the project is starting next month,” the email stated.

Weiss said the MDOT meeting planned for Jan. 21 was moved, because it fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday. MDOT will hold an open house at Constantine High School from 5-7 p.m.

Jan 28.

In other council business Monday, Village Manager Mark Honeysett said he and Scott Smith, attorney for the sewer ad hoc committee, met Dec. 26 with Three Rivers officials to discuss the village increasing its maintenance of the forced main.

“Right now, Three Rivers does all work on the forced main, but any costs were out of our pocket,” Honeysett said.

Scott asked Baker what sort of repairs and expenses he could see on the horizon for our force main, Honeysett said.

“Pumps are all around 14 years old and he expects them to fail and need replacing in the not-too-distant future,” Honeysett said.

Baker also indicated the pipeline itself may start to fail, but there is no way to project when, Honesett said.

“He said some pipelines that have failed in as little as 10 years and some that have operated without any problems for 30 years or more,” Honeysett said.

Honeysett said the village’s contract to pipe sewage to the waste treatment plant in Three Rivers expires in 2016. He emphasized no plans were made and negotiations had not yet begun. Another meeting is planned with Three Rivers at the end of the month.

In other village news, a retirement party with light appetizers for Cpl. Robert Studabaker will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Fraternal Order Police Lodge 106, 24273 M-86 in Centreville. Studabaker is retiring after 32 years of service with the Constantine Police Department.